Human Rights Discussion

When considering having universal Human Rights it needs to be considered whether “forcing” these rights on nations that have a different cultural or ethical belief system is the right thing to do. And if doing so how it would be done, “here, it becomes, in part, a question for the adopting culture whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.” “Intellectual persuasion, as a means of extending human rights, is, of course, the feature that intellectuals have an understandable tendancy to emphasize.” “Intellectual roots of changing cultural concepts can hardly be underestimated” (Eisgruber, Sajo, 2005 pp 8, 9). To change the cultural concepts of nations that do not agree with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a tough feat, but should be what happens.

Human Rights should be universal to create a better world to live in for all humans. If cultural and ethical positions are taken into consideration more acts of genocide and inhuman killings will occur. In today’s society where Human Rights are trying to be achieved universally situations arise where genocide occurs or nations still have death penalties or floggings as punishments which are clear violations of Human Rights. Other circumstances stop Human Rights from achieving universal status including political will and sovereignty because as discussed, these can stop the UN and other forces from stopping cases of Human Rights violations such as the Rwanda and Sudan genocides.